Innsmouth, Massachusetts

I seek passage from Newburyport to Arkham
But the cheapest route is by the bus that passes through Innsmouth.
I have heard the people there have been mutated by some sort of
Epidemic that gives them narrow heads, bulging eyes and scabby skin.

I board the bus to this port town
and Im overwhelmed by the stench of fish
And the driver shares the same mutations as to rumors tell.
Instantly I feel revulsion to the sight
and stench but I rest my head on the
Rain covered window as I start my trek.

On route to the town
I see less and less
Inhabited homes
Left as statues of stone!

Upon arrival
Most structures are dilapidated
And abandoned
Or seemed to be in …
INNSMOUTH MASSACHUSETTS!
SUFFERS FROM A CURSE, FROM THE DEPTHS!
ALL ALONG THE MISTY SHORELINE!
SHADOWS LURK BENEATH THE WAVES!

THE SHADOW OVER INNSMOTH!
IS AN ANCIENT TRANSFORMATION!
THE DEEP ONES EMBRACE YOUR ARRIVAL!
AND WILL MAKE YOU ONE OF THEM!
Once in town I make my way to the First National Gorcery
The clerk there told me to stay clear of the people
And the churches of Dagon and to seek out a drunk
Named Zadok who might tell me history of Innsmouth

In exchange for a bottle of VODKA!
After sometime I found Zadok drunk on the shoreline
I presented the VODKA but demanded and explanation
Of this crumbling town

He told me of a time when the lack of fish
Drove this town into starvation
And Captain Marsh prayed to Dagon
On Devil’s Reef and raised the deep ones from the depths
To curse and murder half the town
And breed with the rest, hence the Innsmouth look

After Zadok’s drunken ramblings, he hysterically screams
“YOU MUST LEAVE INNSMOUTH TONIGHT, IMMEDIETLY!”
And then sprints away screaming,
“THE OLD TRAIN TRACKS, YOU MUST LEAVE!”

I began to think of what Zadok said and
Thought it best to make my way back to the bus
And continue on to Arkham.

But when I arrived back to the bus
And talked to the driver he said
“The bus is broken down and will
Not be leaving Innsmouth tonight.”
My stomach churned not only from what I just heard
But also from his bulgy eyes, scalely skin and rotten stench!

INNSMOUTH MASSACHUSETTS!
I MUST STAY HERE THIS NIGHT!
DIRECTED BY THE DRIVER!
TO STAY AT THE GILMAN HOUSE!

I GOT MY ROOM!
LOCKED THE SHABY DOOR!
AND WITH GREAT UNEASE!
I DRIFTED OFF TO SLEEP…

I awoke many times in the night
Unable to sleep in this
Musty, strange place
Then theres a sound from the door

I make my way to the door
but take notice of the lack of windows in this room!
The closer to the door that I get
The louder and clearer the noise becomes.

It seems to be whispering
Coming from the otherside
The door knob begins to rattle
As if someones trying to get in… get in ….

I decide to look though the keyhole
But when I do my eye is met with another eye
I fall back realizing what I just saw

The rattling turns into banging
AM I IN A DREAM?! IS THIS REALLY ME?!
YES!! And I must no escape!
By any means, I MUST ESCAPE!

I run to the conjoining room’s door
“It is locked!” so I bang with all my strength
Luckily I locked the deadbolt on my door
Which gave me enough time to get this one down

As it falls, so does the one behind me
I look back and see two tall dark figures
Making their way towards me
As if time stopped, I begin to think
“Could these be the cursed men if Devil’s Reef?”

With a wave of adrenaline
I turn back to the other room
And see a window on the far side
This is now my only route

They are closing in…
With Snarling and banging coming from every door
I sense the ones behind me drawing near
So I sprint at full speed to the window
And leap with a crash!

Gathering my sense from that two story fall
I can hear my pursuers converging on my very soul!

I take off in a sprint to the shoreline
In hopes to find old Zadok
But all I see is a man in a red robe
And dark shapes emerging from the water!

INNSMOUTH MASSACHUSETTS!
THE DEEP ONES HAVE RISED!
AND ARE IN PURSUIT OF!
ME ON THIS NIGHT!

AIMLESSLY RUNNING!
THROUGH THIS CURSED TOWN!
I REMEMBER ZADOK’S WORDS!
“THE OLD TRAIN TRACKS! YOU MUST LEAVE!!!”

"The reality of what I had been through was highly uncertain in my mind, but I felt that something hideous lay in the background.
I must get away from evil-shadowed Innsmouth - and accordingly I began to test my cramped, wearied powers of locomotion.
Despite weakness hunger, horror, and bewilderment I found myself after a time able to walk; so started
slowly along the muddy road to Rowley."
- H.P. Lovecraft